Chris Foster
@chrisfoster.bsky.social
The twit formerly known as hatbirder. Insects, birds, etc. Lecturer in ecology / entomology at University of Reading. See also @carabidaeuk.bsky.social.
I'd wondered what that on earth that packet of 7s I found in our lab was for...maybe still not big enough for Norman!
November 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I'd wondered what that on earth that packet of 7s I found in our lab was for...maybe still not big enough for Norman!
One of my favourite bird songs! Woodlark gave a wonderful close flypast in full song then continued to sing from a perch for a while.
October 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
One of my favourite bird songs! Woodlark gave a wonderful close flypast in full song then continued to sing from a perch for a while.
Splashes of October colour on Greenham Common this morning while a Woodlark sang (listen below! 👇)
October 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Splashes of October colour on Greenham Common this morning while a Woodlark sang (listen below! 👇)
Ah, happy memory of a formative and necessary experience as a politician at any level - being slightly misquoted out of context by the press 😆
October 6, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Ah, happy memory of a formative and necessary experience as a politician at any level - being slightly misquoted out of context by the press 😆
Great Green Bush Cricket from a park in Potsdam earlier this month. Strikingly yellow legs on this individual
September 29, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Great Green Bush Cricket from a park in Potsdam earlier this month. Strikingly yellow legs on this individual
Yes, I always enjoyed this as a book title!
September 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Yes, I always enjoyed this as a book title!
But we did get there in the end and Lubeck is very lovely (with an unexpectedly diverting local natural history museum)
September 19, 2025 at 3:19 PM
But we did get there in the end and Lubeck is very lovely (with an unexpectedly diverting local natural history museum)
Nice! Here's one of a similar vintage in Berlin this evening. Nice Dunkel in an unfortunately very smoky bar with superb live jazz. Will be in Brussels one night on the way home on Sunday so interested in any tips for a watering hole near midi station!
September 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Nice! Here's one of a similar vintage in Berlin this evening. Nice Dunkel in an unfortunately very smoky bar with superb live jazz. Will be in Brussels one night on the way home on Sunday so interested in any tips for a watering hole near midi station!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Ento25 this coming week @royentsoc.bsky.social. This memory popped up today, entomophagy at Ento15 in Dublin! As I recall the ants were quite piquant.
September 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Ento25 this coming week @royentsoc.bsky.social. This memory popped up today, entomophagy at Ento15 in Dublin! As I recall the ants were quite piquant.
Assuming you are happy with non picnic data and that this counts as 'ham', despite being jam coloured... 😄
August 23, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Assuming you are happy with non picnic data and that this counts as 'ham', despite being jam coloured... 😄
Imagine how miserable you'd have to be to spend your day getting angry about improving road safety, or finding it funny (and it goes without saying, never read comments on Facebook!)
August 20, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Imagine how miserable you'd have to be to spend your day getting angry about improving road safety, or finding it funny (and it goes without saying, never read comments on Facebook!)
RSPB species ID needs some work
July 17, 2025 at 7:47 AM
RSPB species ID needs some work
On this day in 2018, at least 50 Swifts over our garden, probably 70+. Happy if I see more than 20 now. Rapidly shifting baselines, though that was on the sort of thundery day where non-local birds pass through following ascending insects.
July 12, 2025 at 10:48 AM
On this day in 2018, at least 50 Swifts over our garden, probably 70+. Happy if I see more than 20 now. Rapidly shifting baselines, though that was on the sort of thundery day where non-local birds pass through following ascending insects.
Heading back south after two varied weeks in Scotland: Cairngorms with @colsocbi.bsky.social, holiday on South Uist and Barra and finally @landscapeecologyuk.bsky.social conference in Edinburgh with a trip to Carrifran. Great memories made, much to think about and I hope to haste back 🏴
July 4, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Heading back south after two varied weeks in Scotland: Cairngorms with @colsocbi.bsky.social, holiday on South Uist and Barra and finally @landscapeecologyuk.bsky.social conference in Edinburgh with a trip to Carrifran. Great memories made, much to think about and I hope to haste back 🏴
Idyllic morning on Eriskay
June 29, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Idyllic morning on Eriskay
I don't recall seeing Lesser Butterfly Orchid before but surely must have. This spring I've found them in Wiltshire chalk downland, New Forest heath and now this in a South Uist road verge.
June 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
I don't recall seeing Lesser Butterfly Orchid before but surely must have. This spring I've found them in Wiltshire chalk downland, New Forest heath and now this in a South Uist road verge.
Fancy being called facetious in the local newspaper
June 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Fancy being called facetious in the local newspaper
Hollyhock weevil season
June 19, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Hollyhock weevil season
On this day in 2022 I was stood on snow, resolutely failing to see a Wallcreeper, but the Alpine Choughs were great fun. Hope to return to northern Spain in the relatively near future - by sea or rail of course!
May 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
On this day in 2022 I was stood on snow, resolutely failing to see a Wallcreeper, but the Alpine Choughs were great fun. Hope to return to northern Spain in the relatively near future - by sea or rail of course!
A fantastic day checking out Cherhill and Calstone downs, Wiltshire in the faint hope of finding Lebia cruxminor (I reckon our timing was off...), great selection of chalk grassland insects and plants were more than sufficient consolation.
May 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A fantastic day checking out Cherhill and Calstone downs, Wiltshire in the faint hope of finding Lebia cruxminor (I reckon our timing was off...), great selection of chalk grassland insects and plants were more than sufficient consolation.
When you're on the phone in an entomology lab
May 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
When you're on the phone in an entomology lab
Just spotted on the street view for new housing north of Newbury. What is it with the obsession for naming streets in developments after the species that might have been destroyed in the process?
May 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Just spotted on the street view for new housing north of Newbury. What is it with the obsession for naming streets in developments after the species that might have been destroyed in the process?
Ah I knew a Scottish island holiday must inevitably fall victim to ferry disruption. Pity the people who have to live with this, rather than being mildly inconvenienced as tourists. Still, sad not to sail out of Mallaig which is a route we've not done before.
May 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Ah I knew a Scottish island holiday must inevitably fall victim to ferry disruption. Pity the people who have to live with this, rather than being mildly inconvenienced as tourists. Still, sad not to sail out of Mallaig which is a route we've not done before.
Iron Prominent is always a favourite. To light in our garden which feels much fresher after last night's rain. Hope that isn't all the rain May has to offer 😬
May 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Iron Prominent is always a favourite. To light in our garden which feels much fresher after last night's rain. Hope that isn't all the rain May has to offer 😬
Lovely insects (including the moth Yellow Cap which appears to be a good record) and some exciting post, a good day in the @unirdgento.bsky.social 'office'!
May 9, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Lovely insects (including the moth Yellow Cap which appears to be a good record) and some exciting post, a good day in the @unirdgento.bsky.social 'office'!